42 Star Chadwick Boseman To Play James Brown In Upcoming Biopic

Earlier this year,we reported on the casting of an upcoming James Brown biopic directed by The Help’s Tate Taylor. Last night (August 26), Universal Pictures revealed that 42star Chadwick Boseman will play the iconic funk and soul musician.

Boseman delivered in his role as barrier-breaking Major League Baseball star, Jackie Robinson. With the Brown role landing in his lap, it appears the Howard University grad is becoming Hollywood’s go-to guy to play Black historic figures. Deadline broke the news last night and while details are scarce, Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Glazer and Rolling Stones leader Mick Jagger are still involved.

The film will be a co-production between Jagged Films, based on a screenplay by Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth. Grazer and Jagger will produce along with Jagged’s Victoria Pearman and Imagine’s Erica Huggins. Universal signed on recently. The story charts a young boy’s rise from extreme poverty and violence to become The Godfather Of Soul, one of the most influential black artists in history whose career spanned six decades.

Brown was working alongside Grazer on the biopic up until his untimely passing in 2006. The title and release date of the film has not yet been announced.